ELEVATE: Books + Banter on the Mat
Elevate Your Practice
The Elevate Series is a social yoga experience.
It's a journey that transcends the confines of the yoga mat. It's about taking our physical practice, or asana, and propelling it into a realm of self-discovery known as svadhyaya.
In this space, we're constantly reminded that our life's achievements aren't limited to our experience, but they're woven intricately into the world of community and spirit that surrounds us.
We’re all connected.
The Elevate brand is about deepening our personal yoga practice, knowing that as we grow individually, we also fortify our connections with the broader community.
Elevate brings the voices of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors and wisdom providers to the forefront, featuring their works of literature. Through passionate banter, we delve into thought-provoking conversations. We encourage you to exchange stories, unleash your frustrations, and nurture your dreams, all with the expectation that change is inevitable.
By amplifying the voices of the global majority, we're achieving a trifecta:
We're taking our personal yoga practice to new heights.
We're creating a vibrant, connected community that thrives.
We're changing the world, no doubt about it.
100% of the 2023-24 Elevate Series event proceeds will contribute to the inaugural Awake To My Soul Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) scholarship, specifically designated for a QTBIPOC student.
Kick Off Event at Soul Yoga
We’re excited to kick the series off with our first book selection Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey.
image via HBG
Friday, November 10
6:30-9p
Join Anna Matisak and Ylonda Rosenthal-Greene as they guide us through an enriching book discussion, accompanied by light bites. Following the initial discussion, we’ll embark on journaling exercise, and conclude our evening with a transformative sound bath experience.
For total immersion in this experience, come prepared with these essentials:
The selected book
Your yoga mat (rentals available for $2)
A journal (optional)
And most importantly, an open heart and mind.
Above all, we humbly ask that each attendee embraces a profound respect for every soul in the room and commits to the powerful act of shedding preconceived notions. Let's journey together with open hearts, open minds, and open books.
The Study of Self
A true yoga practice is not just about perfecting poses – it's a deeply personal journey. Including the study of the yamas and niyamas. Among them, svadhyaya emerges as the rebel, a warrior of self-discovery and its untamed connection to the world.
Svadhyaya, this fearless Niyama, is no ordinary principle. It's a gritty, unapologetic and relentless journey of self-exploration, self-awareness and ruthless self-improvement. It's a rollercoaster ride of constant growth, a thirst for knowledge about oneself and the world that orbits around us.
Through this study of self, you become a torchbearer for others, challenging the status quo and igniting a revolution of self-discovery, empathy and transformation. It's growth. It’s evolution. It’s for the greater good.
Connecting to Community
While svadhyaya may not be immediately obvious in its connection to the community, it's a sneaky agent of change, strengthening the bonds that tie us to our community.
Through svadhyaya, we become more empathetic, read between the lines of our emotions and sharpen our understanding of others. It's like a secret language that only insiders of self-study can speak.
Our communication skills change and we're no longer just talking; we’re listening, connecting, and understanding with a depth that resonates.
Service becomes second nature. As we grasp the power of inner transformation, we're driven to make a difference in our community.
Mindfulness and conflict resolution turn us into hyper-aware community members. We're the ones who sense when something's off and act to make it right.
And most relevant — leading by example. As we evolve through self-study, we become beacons of inspiration, nudging others in the community to embark on their own transformative journeys.
This Elevate + Soul Yoga mashup is inspired by the Soul Yoga guiding principles. It’s all about unlearning what we thought we knew and embracing the wisdom of the global majority. It's about altering our behavior, sparking a revolution in our interactions with society and taking the world by storm, one self-study at a time.
